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Friday, July 29, 2011

WOW!
It's already Friday.
I feel as though this week (this very challenging and busy week) has had its way with me.
Honestly, as this morning rolls in, I feel beaten up and run down.

But now that Friday is here, I am excited to enjoy the much-needed weekend, I realize that this week was the first week of 2011 where my life seemed truly unmanageable... overwhelming, if you will. So this morning, I stopped everything and started praying for the Lord to show me what was going on... why life seemed so hectic all of a sudden. Here is what He revealed:

Turns out that this week I allowed my own "busyness" to bulldoze over God's healthy promise of calm, comfort and control in my heart. Sadly, at some point I stopped focusing on Jesus with regard to my schedule... I stopped looking to my Creator to give me just enough time and energy to finish the work He planned for me to accomplish. As a result, I stopped focusing my gaze on the Master of all my comings and goings. Instead, I obsessively propelled my life into more and more busywork as I pridefully embraced the far fetched notion that I could handle it all... that I could complete a never ending to do list in five days or less. How ridiculous.

Have you ever had a week like that?... A time when you were distracted away from your purpose to live deliberately under Jesus' authority, and instead became a responsibility addict... a delusional workaholic who lived hurried and scattered? And unfortunately, the deeper you tried to get things done, the more your heart and spirit started running on auto pilot? Have you found yourself sitting at the end of a time period wondering how you got there?... Realizing how many meals you skipped or scarfed down, how much sleep you lost, and how frequently you worked late rather than working smart - all for the sake of self fulfillment and accomplishment?

This was such a week for me. A week where Satan was able to cloud my judgement with stacks of responsibilities and people pleasing. And I bit down hard on the enemy's bait. So hard, that I've been struggling to wiggle free from his net since Monday. Even though I had enjoyed my daily study and prayer time this week, in retrospect, I don't think I showed up 100% for God. No. I was more like the spouse who takes his partner out for an intimate dinner but ends up discussing business on his cell phone throughout the entire evening. SOOO, not cool!!!

Thankfully, today the Lord came to my rescue. He dusted away my fog of frenzy and exposed how self destructive I had become in only five short days. With busyness monopolizing my time, I lost sight of the fact that He should be the only one overseeing my productiveness. How embarrassing. I knew that. I strive to live by it. Yet in one small work week, my sinful ego began to overshadow my Redeemer's rule, and I started grabbing it all back... all the work and worry... all the intense rushing and pushing to get EVERYTHING done now. How grateful I am to realize how much I need to let go and give back to Him in order to stay on track and enjoy His peace and rule over all that is going on around me and in me.

So, as the weekend soon approaches, I look forward to sacred renewal and a time of restful submission as I pause to snuggle back into the arms of my Good Shepherd. Thank you, Lord, for coming after me when I fall astray. Thank you for opening my eyes to the dangers of burnout and busyness. Thank you for protecting me and my time even when I foolishly abuse the moments you have given. Keep my eyes focused on You, dear Jesus. Keep me committed to Your plan and not on my own objectives. Direct my steps and prevent me from over-prioritizing my days with hectic and superficial tasks. Remind me to stop, pause, breath and be silent as I seek to trust Your timing. Continue to give me exactly what I need, to accomplish exactly what You have planned for my life.

Better one handful with tranquillity than two handfuls with toil and chasing after the wind. (Ecclesiastes 4:6)

Father, let me produce and please You alone. In all I do, may I forever proclaim, "Glory be Your Name, dear Jesus. All glory and power is Yours to rule! O Holy King of Kings!" Amen!!!

(D.L. Moody)
Since the start of DW, just about every day I have heard a recurring comment about our ministry... "This is sooo good." That statement has reminded me of the above quote from D.L. Moody. In particular, the part that said "goodness is love in action".

You know, that is what I hope and pray for The Devoted Woman Ministry, and all who claim part in it... LOVE IN ACTION.

So many times in life, I stood by the sidelines and didn't step up when God was clearly telling me to. How selfish and lazy I was. Only when I got passed my own excuses did I learn that when God leads us to do something... it is a great opportunity to see Him work in a BIG way for what is GOOD. Only then are we able to see Him bless us beyond measure!

God has shown me that the only way I should love (and live) is with action and a heart for Jesus! He intended for each of us to exist to glorify Him with every single breath we inhale/exhale. As believers and followers of Jesus, we are dead to sin... but even more important... we are ALIVE in Christ. And Christ is love! He is really the One that is sooo GOOD! All credit should always go to Him.

I have learned that it is an honor to speak God's words and mirror His ways. As such, it is my lifetime goal to share everything that the Lord, our wonderful Counselor and Teacher, has said. I am resolved to follow His call and speak His truth to anyone who will listen. You see, TODAY is the day to live in love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control! We are each here to glorify and worship Jesus' name in all we say and do. We are alive for one very fulfilling reason - - to love and honor God above everyone and everything else (even our own self) with all our heart, soul, mind, strength!!!

I encourage you to focus on WHO love is! WHO goodness comes from. Forget about what mankind says and focus on God's grace. Know and share His word! Believe in every one of His blessed promises! Abide in Jesus!!! Succeed in Jesus!!! Assume your identity in Jesus! He is sooo GOOD, believer. He is sooo worth it!!!

I hope you will join me in this worthy quest - to love in action and spread His glory to all the world while living each and every moment for His holy and perfect name's sake!

Sunday, July 3, 2011

Hello. My name is Benny Beagleman. My Mommy (Victoria) wanted me to send you a note letting you know some wonderful news....

JESUS LOVES YOU!!!!

Mommy wanted me to tell you this important news because she thought that it would make you smile big! (...and she likes it when people smile big and are happy.... actually, so do I!)

OK, I'm going to go take my daily nap now... however, please note that my tummy will be open for rubbing if anyone feels so inclined to pat it. God Bless You and Woof Hoof! ("Woo Hoo" if you talk like my Mommy.)

Put to death, therefore, whatever belongs to your earthly nature: sexual immorality, impurity, lust, evil desires and greed, which is idolatry. Because of these, the wrath of God is coming. Let the message of Christ dwell among you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom through psalms, hymns, and songs from the Spirit, singing to God with gratitude in your hearts. And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him. (Colossians 3:5-6; 16-17)
Did you know that 80% of all pictures on the internet are of naked women, and for every 'normal' webpage there are five porn pages? Considering there are approx 1,319,872,109 people on the Internet each day, this is a huge issue every Christian should stand against in Jesus Name.

Satan will continue to use all means possible to infiltrate, influence, and lead people away from God by doing all he can to destroy our marriages and families by numbing our hearts and feeding into our lustfulness.

In Jesus Name, let us live modestly, prayerfully, honorably, righteously, holy, and pure in God's eyes. Lord, we ask that you intervene and change us. We ask that your Holy Spirit guards our hearts from all forms of sinful lusts. Teach us the best way to stand against this corrupt epidemic. And lead us into your perfect, unmatched beauty that always satisfies!

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All articles and content posted to this website are protected by the copyright laws of the United States (17 U.S.C. 101 et seq.) and similar laws in other countries. No part of this website may be used in whole or in part without prior written consent of Victoria Anderson.